Marian statue damaged by arsonist in Taiwan now fully restored

November 22, 2016

A 60-year-old wooden Marian statue badly damaged in an arson attack in Taiwan's oldest church has been fully restored.

The restored statue was unveiled on Nov. 20 in a ceremony led by Archbishop Peter Liu of Kaohsiung at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in the small town of Wanjin, southern Pingtung county, reported the Taipei Times.

The report said that some 1,000 Catholics attended the ceremony.

It cost around U.S.$9,400 to repair the fire damage done to the statue, which was caused by a mentally ill person on Aug. 5.

Located in the front left side of the altar, the statue stands on a sedan and it is used during processions for important church feast days. Security cameras have now been installed around the statue.

Wanjin has a Catholic population of 3,000. It is the only predominately Catholic town in Taiwan. Kaoshiung Diocese has around 45,000 Catholics.